Saul's errand to Damascus, with his packet of letters from the high priests against the disciples of the Lord, or, A faithful transcript of a petition contrived by some persons in Lancashier who call themselves ministers of the Gospel breathing out threatnings and slaughters against a peaceable & godly people there, by them nick-named Quakers : together with the defence of the persons thereby traduced against, the slanderous and false suggestions of that petition, and other untruths charged upon them : published to no other end but to draw out the bowels of tender compassion from all that love the poor despised servants of Jesus Christ, who have been the scorn of carnal men in all ages.

Queries propounded to George Fox. by some of the Contrivers of the Peti∣tion, and by him Answered.

Query. WHether there be one individual God distinguish∣ed into the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or not?

Answ. Herein thou wouldst know, whether God be indivi∣dual, yea or no, which is but a busie minde: for hadst thou the witness in thy self thou wouldst know that he is: but the Hea∣then know not God, and all that know him not, are Heathen living in the wicked imiginations of their own hearts; and that is thy condition: For God is a Spirit, and none know him but the Son, and he to whom the Son is revealed: the Son and the Word is one. He that hath ears to bear let him bear, what the Spirit saith, for thou, natural man, thou knowest not the things of God.

Qu. Whether a believer be justified by Christs righteousness imputed, yea, or no?

Answ. He that beleeveth is born of God: and he that is born of God, is justified by Christ alone without imputation.

Qu. Whether he that beleeveth that Christ hath taken away his sin, is clean without sin in this life, as Christ himself, or not?

Answ. He that believeth is born of God, and he that is born of God sins not, neither can he sin, because his seed remaineth in him, as he is, so are we in this present evil world.

Qu. Whether a Believer be without all sin in this life or not?

Answ. Christ being made manifest, is made manifest to take away sin, and in him is no sin at all; he that abideth in him, sins not; he that sins is of the Devil, and bath not seen him, 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

in the true Church of God there is no talk of such carnal things, Thou Sot, the Bread which the Saints break, is of the body of Christ; he is the bread of life. The Church is not the Steeple∣house but the Church is in God, and those that eat the bread of life, live for ever: the Church is in God, and the bread of life is there, and it shall continue for ever.

Qu. Whether Christ in the flesh be a figure or not; and if a figure, how and in what?

Answ. Christ is the substance of all figures; and his flesh is a figure; for every one passeth through the same way as he did, who comes to know Christ in the flesh: there must be a suf∣fering with him, before there be a rejoycing with him. Christ is an example for all to walk after; and if thou know'st what an example is, thou wouldst know what a figure is, to come up to the same fulness.

Qu. Weether there be any Heaven or Hell, for the Elect or Reprobute after death, but in man in this life or not?

Answ. There is no knowledge of Heaven or Hell; but through death the wicked shall be turned into bell, and all them that forget God, there to be tormented; there is a hell, thou shalt finde it: Heaven is God Throne; and Heavenly notions with∣in shall be shaken: for God is pure, and nothing that is un∣clean shall stand before him: and he hath said he will dwell in man.

Qu. Whether the Ministration of the Ministory by man is to continue till the end, or not?

Answ. The Ministration of the world is the Ministry of man, and doth not lead to an end, but keeps in time, and that must have on end; for it is not of God. The Ministery of God is to draw people up to himself: but that is not of man, nor by man nor according to man: or Paul was made a Minister according to the wil of God, who had not received it of man neither was it taught him of man, and was a Minister of the Spint but the Mi∣nisters of the world receive their learning as Oxford and Cam∣bridge, and are taught of men, and speak a divination of their own brain, which is conjuring: and bewitch the people with those things which are carnal: as, to sprinkle Infants, and tell

them of a Sacrament which there is no Scripture for; and say∣ing they are the Ministers of Christ, and act those things which he forbids; as to have the chiefest place in the assemblies, the up∣permost room at feasts, the greeting in Markets, and to be cal∣led of men Masters, and with pretence make long prayers, which Christ forbids, and profess and say, they are the Ministers of Christ: wherein they shew themselves to be Antichrist. And see if thou do not uphold these Antichrists, and say they are the Ministers of Christ.

Qu. Whether the written Word, I mean the Scriptures be the power of God unto Salvrtion, to every one that believes, or not?

Answ. The written Word is not the power of God, not the Scriptures are not the Salvation; but he that doth believe hath the life of them. Who is born of God, shall never dye; as it is written, he that believeth is born of God, and he that is born of God hath the witness in himselfe, that God is the cause of mans Salvation, and not the Scripture nor the Letter.